Should I Contact a Personal Injury Attorney After I’ve Been Bitten by a Dog?

Should I Contact a Personal Injury Attorney After I’ve Been Bitten by a Dog?

If you or a family member has been bitten by a dog, your mind probably doesn’t jump immediately to getting a personal injury attorney, but after you’ve attended to your wounds or called an ambulance if necessary, you should consider hiring a personal injury attorney. Here’s why:

Medical Expenses Can Add Up Quickly

Ambulance services, ER visits, shots, stitches, x rays, labs, and other medical expenses can get out of hand quickly, leaving you with a bill that you were not prepared for. The good news is, is that if the owner of the dog who bit you is responsible for all damages that result from the bite. A personal injury attorney is familiar with both hospital bills and insurance companies and can ensure that the proper payment is received from the party at fault, allowing you to focus on healing.

A Personal Injury Attorney Works as an Intermediate

If you’ve been bitten by someone’s dog, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to negotiate directly with them. Things can be uncomfortable at best, openly hostile at worst. Having a personal injury lawyer on your side means having an advocate who can negotiate with the dog owner’s insurance directly. Their extensive knowledge and experience with insurance companies means that you’ll get the appropriate amount without having to deal with the stress of dealing with the dog owner directly.

There May be Long Term Effects You Didn’t Predict

While a dog bite may seem like a fairly straightforward problem to resolve, frequently there are long term consequences to these bites. Depending on the location and depth of the bite, plastic surgery or surgeries may be necessary. These are of course expensive and recovery times may be expensive.

Additionally, and more frequently in the case of children, dog bite victims may experience varying degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder. While putting a number on that kind of damage is impossible, having the dog owner cover the cost of therapy and treatments is definitely a start. A personal injury attorney can make sure that you or your family member is taken care of both in the short and long term.

Caring, Personal Injury Lawyer in Vancouver, WA

If you or a family member has been bitten by a dog and you aren’t sure what to do next, contact Philbrook Law Office and speak with an experienced personal injury attorney today. Our team will handle your case with the care and attention it deserves.